America's Cup set for Auckland in 2021

Protocols for the next America's Cup will be released in September, with the challenger series and Cup match set to be held early in 2021 during the New Zealand summer.

It's also likely the protocols will contain a nationality requirement for competing crew members and a "constructed in country" requirement for competing yachts.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and challenger of record Circolo della Vela Sicilia on Wednesday all but confirmed early widespread speculation that the 36th edition of the event would be held in Auckland.

The announcement, released by Team New Zealand with Luna Rossa Challenge, said proposed dates for the event would be further detailed in the protocols.

"In recognition of the fundamental condition of the Deed of Gift that the Cup be preserved as a perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries, the protocol will contain a "constructed in country" requirement for competing yachts and a nationality requirement for competing crew members," Team NZ said in a statement.

Peter Burling's Kiwi crew beat Team USA 7-1 to wrest the America's Cup from holders Team USA in Bermuda late last month.

Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton said immediately afterwards that his syndicate were keen to keep the regatta affordable.

"We will put in place rules and an organisation of our own in terms of Team New Zealand, that if we're good enough, we'll hold onto it," he told Associated Press.

"If we're not good enough, we won't. We will not try and impose our will on it to make sure we'll hold onto it at all costs.

"To me, it is a privilege to hold the America's Cup. It is not a right."